Page 285 - GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Great Expectations

broke into tears. It was by the finger-post at the end of the
village, and I laid my hand upon it, and said, ‘Good-bye O
my dear, dear friend!’
Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears,

for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying
our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before -
more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more
gentle. If I had cried before, I should have had Joe with
me then.
So subdued I was by those tears, and by their breaking
out again in the course of the quiet walk, that when I was
on the coach, and it was clear of the town, I deliberated
with an aching heart whether I would not get down when
we changed horses and walk back, and have another
evening at home, and a better parting. We changed, and I
had not made up my mind, and still reflected for my
comfort that it would be quite practicable to get down and
walk back, when we changed again. And while I was
occupied with these deliberations, I would fancy an exact
resemblance to Joe in some man coming along the road
towards us, and my heart would beat high. - As if he
could possibly be there!
We changed again, and yet again, and it was now too
late and too far to go back, and I went on. And the mists

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